Low-income Fare Discount Program
At Metrolink, we are committed to providing safe, affordable transportation for everyone and are proud to offer everyday discounted fares for riders of all types. To help further promote equity in public transportation, we are proud to introduce our new low-income fare discount program offering riders a 50% discount on any Metrolink ticket or pass available with a valid California Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card.
- Eligible riders will receive a 50% discount on any Metrolink ticket or pass.
- Tickets are only available for purchase from Metrolink ticket machines.
- Metrolink tickets allow for free transfers on participating transit agency services in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura counties.
- Effective September 1, 2022, Metrolink’s new low-income fare program will be available.
- The pilot program is set to expire on August 31, 2023, or once funds are exhausted.
Eligibility criteria
To qualify for the discount, riders must possess a valid EBT card issued by the state of California. No further application is needed.
Access for More Riders
Riders who do not possess a valid EBT card issued by the state of California may still qualify for other fare discounts. Please visit our Everyday Discounts page to see available reduced fare and discounted pass programs. If you have any questions, please see the frequently asked questions below or contact us at (800) 371-5465 (LINK).
Program Funding
Funding for the discount is made possible by a $5.7 million grant from the Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP), administered by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). If funds are exhausted before the end of the project period (Sept. 1, 2022 - Aug. 31, 2023), the discount program will end.
Frequently Asked Questions
All Metrolink tickets and passes qualify for the 50% low income fare discount.
The low income fare discount begins on September 1, 2022, and will continue until the grant funding has been depleted.
The Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card is part of California’s public assistance program. For information on EBT, click here.
Riders with an EBT card must purchase a paper ticket from a Metrolink ticket machine.
Funds will not be deducted from the EBT card. The EBT card only validates that you qualify for the discount and an alternative form of payment is needed to complete a ticket purchase.
Ticket machine process:
- Step 1: From the home screen, Select CA EBT Low-Income
- Step 2: Insert EBT card for discount validation
- Step 3: Select ticket type (one-way, round-trip, monthly, etc.)
- Step 4: Select the origin and destination station pairs
- Step 5: Insert payment
No. Currently the low income fare discount is only available for purchase at ticket machines located at Metrolink stations.
This fare discount advances Metrolink's commitment to public transportation equity and accessibility across the six counties we serve. Through this effort, more people in Southern California will now be able to make vital connections to work, school, family, housing and more. Metrolink pursued and was awarded a $5.7 million grant from the State of California to offer the 50% discount to riders with state issued EBT cards.
No. Only valid California EBT cards with IIN (Issuer Identification Number) 507719 are eligible for the low income fare discount.
For this program, income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level qualifies. Metrolink does not determine low-income status. To qualify for the discount, a valid California EBT card is required. For information on EBT, click here.
If you wish to get more information about the EBT card program, please call 1-877-847-3663 or visit getcalfresh.org.
There is currently no limit to the number of tickets or passes that may be purchased.
The Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP) is one of several programs that are part of the Transit, Affordable Housing, and Sustainable Communities Program established by the California Legislature in 2014 by Senate Bill 862.
Funding for the discount is made possible by a $5.7 million grant from the LCTOP, administered by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans).
Taking the train is easy and can even be fun! Click here to see a step by step process on how you can take the train to wherever you want to go.
At Metrolink safety is our foundational value. As the world continues to change around us, the work we must do to protect your safety evolves and expands. This includes everything from keeping our communities safe from our moving trains to ensuring our riders feel safe and secure throughout their commute with us.